In pictures: How TAG Heuer's lab assembles watches

This article was taken from the May issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online

TAG Heuer's HQ in Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland, manufactures and tests between 500 and 800 million watches every year. For our tool kit series, Wired enters the dust-free zone of the watchmaker's laboratory.

Mainspring robotAt TAG Heuer, watch manufacturing is done in two stages. The mechanical movements are assembled first; dials, hands and case are then mounted by a different team. Here, production robot T1 OPCOL fixes the mainspring that powers the clock to the spring's stud.

LubricationRobot T1 OPLUB lubricates the various components of the watch. As with a car engine, this reduces wear on the components, keeping the watch running for longer.

Stress testThe TAG M001 test machine subjects TAG Heuer's Carrera watches here to rigorous endurance tests, compressing them up to a maximum of 200 Newtons of force and twisting them with 100 Newton centimetres of torque.